What’s in Your Vision Insurance Plan

What’s in Your Vision Insurance Plan

There are more options for vision insurance today than ever before. Whether your vision insurance plan is one you choose as an additional benefit in your employer health benefits package, or vision coverage you seek on your own through an insurance company or vision benefits provider, there are basics you should understand to make the most of vision insurance.

Understanding vision plans and coverage

The options available to you in vision plans can be a little daunting. If you’ve chosen your vision insurance through your employer, your HR department and the insurance company literature—and websites—are a good place to start to understand what your vision insurance plan does and does not cover.

In general, there are two types of vision insurance plans:

Vision Benefits Package

Often purchased as an addition to traditional employer-provided healthcare, this type of vision insurance includes a fixed set of benefits related to eye health and maintenance, such as routine eye exams and testing, discounts for corrective eyewear, even benefits that reduce the cost of eye surgery. Vision insurance like this typically includes a “network” of participating eyecare professionals who have agreed to honor the plan particulars.

This type of vision insurance plan has evolved over the years to include more personalized choice for the consumer in the form of defined contribution vision coverage—where you, the consumer, choose the particular services and discount offerings based on what you expect your vision expenses to be.

Many of these vision plans involve using pre-tax dollars deducted automatically by your employer in the form of Flexible Spending Accounts, “Cafeteria” Plans, Health Savings Accounts or Health Reimbursement Accounts. Each has particular tax advantages and drawbacks you should discuss in full with your vision plan administrator or provider, and if necessary, a tax professional.

Vision Discount Plans

While similar to traditional vision benefits, this type of vision insurance is generally less flexible than a vision benefits package because it offers flat “discounts” across the board for a wide menu of vision-related services, including specified discounts on eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses, even many surgical procedures.

You agree to pay the difference in cost in full—however these types of plans generally offer lower premiums than traditional vision benefit plans.

Vision insurance like this typically includes a “network” of participating eyecare professionals who have agreed to honor the stated discounts within the vision plan, so long as you agree to pay the difference.

Vision insurance planning.

It may sound confusing at first, but you can “plan” to use your vision insurance to your maximum benefit by fully understanding what is specifically covered or not covered under your vision insurance plan, and by also discussing options with your eyecare professional to see how best to apply your particular vision coverage to your eyecare expenses.

This planning includes fully understanding any “traditional” health insurance coverage you may have. Unexpected eye injury, or the onset of certain eye diseases and their related treatments is often covered by your traditional health insurance rather than your specific vision insurance plan.

Use it or lose it. Vision insurance benefits do expire.

Depending upon the type of vision insurance plan you’ve enrolled in, your vision insurance benefits may expire annually. This means if you don’t “use it” you “lose it” until the next year. Since in some way, shape or form, you are contributing your hard-earned money toward your vision coverage, there’s really no excuse to skip your annual eye exam, or get “checked out” should you experience any changes in your vision.

What’s more, many of the defined contribution vision insurance plans (using Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Savings Accounts, in particular) don’t allow for your deposited money to “roll over” into the next year. If you don’t spend what you’ve allocated, you may be at risk of losing that money entirely.

Think beyond the traditional examination—a second pair of eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, photochromic lenses, or eyewear that’s specifically designed to fit your lifestyle. All might be within ready reach if you maximize your vision insurance coverage.

Special thanks to the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, for source material that aided in the creation of this website.

Testimonials

You may recognize this gentleman. His name is Tony Weeks and he's a longstanding patient of Dr. Chiodo's at our Northwest Vision Center. In the photo he is flanked by Christy Klimek (the office manager at the Northwest Vision Center) along with Dr. Chiodo. Tony works as a fulltime corrections officer at a high-risk prison in Victorville California but also is (better known as) a popular professional boxing referee. He...

- Tony Weeks

Rayne Thomas has been a patient at the Summerlin Vision Center since 2004. Ms. Thomas is one of our more interesting patients. She’s a world class author, blues vocalist and humorist. Rayne has had so many accomplishments in her life; they are far too numerous to mention. Her goal is to travel the world with the idea of “healing hearts thru laughter”. She conducts workshops and speaking engagements under this premise,...

- Rayne Thomas

8News NOW Weather Anchor and TV Reporter, Diane Tuazon has been a client of Summerlin Vision Center since she moved to Las Vegas back in 2004. Working in front of a camera and being on television every day takes a strain on my eyes, which is why I have to make sure I see the best optometrists in town, and I trust none other than the staff at Summerlin Vision...

- Diane Tuazon

Ted Keegan is our featured patient shown in this picture with Office Manager Melissa Petrie on the left and Dr. Lisa Guerrero on the right. Ted frequents our Seven Hills Vision Center based on the superior level of care provided by Dr. Guerrero and the entire staff. Ted, is a singer, actor and photographer who previously played the phantom in “Phantom of the Opera” in Las Vegas. Ted is joining...

- Ted Keegan

8 News NOW Weather Anchor, Sherry Swensk, has been a client of Summerlin Vision Center for about as long as she’s been on TV in Las Vegas - nearly 20 years! “Forecasting the weather each day, seeing numbers clearly is vital to my job - especially at 4 a.m. Everything can be pretty blurry at that early hour. But thanks to the great staff at Summerlin Vision Center, it’s easy...

- Sherry Swensk

Derrick Williams is an actor/singer for Disney Theatrical. He is currently performing in the Lion King Show at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas where he taps into his catlike side as Simba’s father, Mufasa. Derrick Williams is no stranger to the stage. He is originally from New York and is an amazing Broadway actor. He has graced stages on Broadway in “Aida” and “Swing”; has appeared on television programs such...

- Derrick Williams

Seven Hills’ Vision Center is the best!!! I’ve been a client for years for all of my vision needs. They offer incredible service, convenient appointments, the very best most up-todate high tech equipment to ensure a complete eye exam, and offers a classy selection of frames to meet the needs of the most stylish trendiest dressers. Anyone who asks me for an eye dr in town, I never hesitate to say, Dr. Lee at Seven...

- Rudy Ruettiger, from the Movie RUDY

My husband and I had been to other eye doctors in the past and neither one of us had ever left with that satisfied feeling. We knew we’d never go back to “that place” again. So, when we were referred to Dr. Podloski at the vision center needless to say, we didn’t have high hopes for anything different. Our first was at the Northwest location and from the minute we...

- Trish Ketchell

My experience at the Vision Center with Dr. Podloski was educational and streamlined. I had never had glasses before and I was nervous about going to the eye doctor to begin with. I went back to school last year and I was required to do a lot more reading than I was used to Dr. Podloski listened very carefully to my concerns and explained everything in detail that was happening...

- Amanda Ketzenberger

Dear Dr. Guerrero I want to take this time to let you know how nice and exceptional your staff is. From Stephanie, Melissa, and will who welcome you so pleasantly on the phone and entering your office and are so helpful. It’s already a nice experience. Melissa was also lovely and patient when I had to go back for adjustments. You ware very pleasant and informative as well. I felt...

- Ann Kenyon

Dr Podloski I would like to take moment to extend my thanks for your help and going the extra mile to take great care and your extreme concern to help my son see again. You are an incredible doctor and very caring. I wish we had more doctors like you in this world. We’ve sent a little appreciation gift from my son and myself to show how much we are...